John Amos
Known for Acting · 110 credits
- Born
- 1939-12-27
- Died
- 2024-08-21
- Place of birth
- Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Also known as
- Jon Amos · Johnny Amos · John A. Amos Jr. · John Allen Amos Jr.
Biography
John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021).
Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.
Known For
TV Shows (48)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Two and a Half Men
2003
as Ed
King of the Hill
1997
as Glen Johnson (voice)
The Love Boat
1977
as Duke Taylor
The West Wing
1999
as Percy Fitzwallace
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Doc Penrose
Psych
2006
as Uncle Burton
The A-Team
1983
as Rev. Taylor
The Cosby Show
1984
as Dr. Herbert
Hunter
1984
as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
Love, American Style
1969
as Bell Captain
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
as Gordy Howard
My Name Is Earl
2005
as Joe
Touched by an Angel
1994
as James Mackey
30 Rock
2006
as John Amos
Lie to Me
2009
as Jim Weaver
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Pastor Roscoe Jones
Dinah!
1974
as Self
The Outer Limits
1995
as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
The District
2000
as Ethan Baker
Royal Pains
2009
as Harrison Phillips
Sanford and Son
1972
Ballers
2015
as Deacon Eller
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Fred Wilkes
Good Times
1974
as James Evans Sr.
Martin
1992
as Sgt. Strawn
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
as Albie Meadows
The Ranch
2016
as Ed
Police Story
1973
as Walt Kyles
Suits LA
2025
as John Amos
Roots
1977
as Toby / Kunta Kinte
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971
as Mark Cooper
The Chris Rock Show
1997
as Self
The Last O.G.
2018
as Uncle D
Men in Trees
2006
as Buzz Washington
In the House
1995
The Movies That Made Us
2019
as Self
Here's Boomer
1981
NYC 22
2012
as Pappy Science
All About the Andersons
2003
as Joe Anderson
Future Cop
1977
as Bill Bundy
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
The Funny Side
1971
as Minority Husband
704 Hauser
1994
as Ernie Cumberbatch
Beauty and the Beast
1987
as Farrell
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
1977
as Older Kunta Kinte
Movies (62)
Die Hard 2
1990
as Major Grant
Uncut Gems
2019
as Neighbor 33F
Coming to America
1988
as Cleo McDowell
Coming 2 America
2021
as Cleo McDowell
Lock Up
1989
as Captain Meissner
Ricochet
1991
as Reverend Styles
The Beastmaster
1982
as Seth
Two Evil Eyes
1990
as Det. Legrand
Me Time
2022
as Gil
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
as Pastor Nelson
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
as Jud
Vanishing Point
1971
as Super Soul's Engineer
American Lowrider
2013
as Slick
Disappearing Acts
2000
as Mr. Swift
The Players Club
1998
as Freeman
Remembering Roots
2002
as Self
Voodoo Moon
2006
as Dutch
For Better or Worse
1995
as Gray
The Last Rifleman
2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Hologram Man
1995
as Wes Strickland
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015
as Earl
Let's Do It Again
1975
as Kansas City Mack
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
as Biker
Mac
1992
as Nat
Touched by Love
1980
as Tony
Shadowboxing
2005
as Хилл
Night Trap
1993
as Capt. Hodges
American Flyers
1985
as Dr. Conrad
Something to Sing About
2000
as Rev. Washington
Countdown
2004
as Admiral Melory
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019
as Fred Davis
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
My Baby's Daddy
2004
as Uncle Virgil
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
as Self
Shark's Paradise
1986
as Taxi Driver
Christmas Belles
2019
as Pop Pop
Because of Charley
2021
as Grandpa
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
as Coach Sam Archer
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973
as Marine Corporal
All Over Again
2007
as Coach Zeller
Ascension Day
2007
as Henry
Zombie Hamlet
2012
as Edgar Mortimer
Information Processing
as Self
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983
as Esteban
Bonanza: The Next Generation
1988
as Mr. Mack
The Watermelon Heist
2003
as Old Man Amos
Cops and Robin
1978
as Officer Bill Bundy
Tamales and Gumbo
2015
as The Patron
The Truth About Santa Claus
2020
as Bob
Block Party
2022
as Dennis
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
Future Cop
1976
as Officer Bill Bundy
Willa
1979
as Virgil
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
as Booker Hutch
Devotion
as Roger
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
as Self
Act of Faith
2014
as Mr. Brady
Christmas in Miami
2021
as Chief Host
Mercy for Angels
2015
as God
The Beastmaster Chronicles
2020
as Self
About John Amos
John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played… With 110 credits spanning from 1961 to 2025, John Amos has appeared in 62 films and 48 TV shows.
Fans searching for John Amos movies, John Amos filmography, or the latest projects starring John Amos can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular John Amos Movies
- Die Hard 2 (1990) — as Major Grant
- Uncut Gems (2019) — as Neighbor 33F
- Coming to America (1988) — as Cleo McDowell
- Coming 2 America (2021) — as Cleo McDowell
- Lock Up (1989) — as Captain Meissner
Where to Watch John Amos Films
Most John Amos movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring John Amos, check our movies catalogue and browse page.